Logitech swallows Slim Devices

Logitech today announced that it has acquired Slim Devices, which develops and sells the music streaming devices Squeezebox and Transporter, for $20 million in cash. The company keeps all Slim Devices employees in place and plans to complement its existing line of products that enables consumers to "listen and control their digital music, anywhere in the home."

Logitech indicated that it will support the Slim Devices team, which "will become a distinct group within Logitech’s Entertainment and Communications business unit," in areas such as interface-product design and amplified-audio systems as well as marketing, sales, distribution, supply chain, manufacturing and engineering resources.

Initial community feedback included concerns about Slim Devices’ open source effort around the Slimserver software. According to Junien Labrousse, senior vice president of Logitech’s Entertainment and Communications business unit, Logitech remains "fully committed to keep and nurture" Slim Devices’ initiative : "We know that it’s people like you that can bring innovation, support and credibility to advanced products. Slim Devices open source approach is indeed a critical component of the products’ features and success," he said.